Kitchen Showroom with Design Service

Homeowners renovating or building, plus small renovation contractors and builders buying for their projects.

A margin on cabinets, countertops and appliances, plus design fees and an optional installation coordination fee. Orders are typically paid in stages, starting with a deposit.

• Kitchen layout and measuring
• Sales and customer service
• Quoting and project management
• Building supplier relationships

• Commercial general liability insurance, plus property cover for your stock and display kitchens
• Municipal business licence and zoning for retail, and French-language signage rules if you are in Quebec
• Installers: check provincial trade certification for electrical, plumbing and gas work, and WCB/WSIB coverage for anyone you hire or subcontract
• Customer deposits and long supplier lead times, as delays and measuring mistakes can be costly
• GST/HST or provincial sales tax registration, depending on your province
• Tight cash flow: showroom rent and display stock are paid long before sales come in

Estimates suggest startup costs typically around $40,000 to $180,000, depending on premises, display kitchens and stock. Showroom rent and display stock are paid well before sales come in, so plan your cash flow carefully.

Check a few things: commercial general liability and property insurance, your municipal business licence and retail zoning, French-language signage rules in Quebec, installer trade certification, WCB/WSIB coverage, and GST/HST or provincial sales tax registration.

Estimates suggest monthly revenue typically around $15,000 to $60,000, depending on location, product range and how many full kitchen jobs you win. Revenue is not profit, as rent, stock and supplier costs come out first.